Ham-holder



mmel') M. U. LOREE.

HAM HOLDER.

Patented June 13, 1893.

INVENYOR, I

BY I

ATTORNEYS, I

W! T AESSE S;

NITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

MANFRED U. LOREE, OF DAYTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR L.

FOSTER, OF MIAMISBURG, OHIO.

HAM-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,238, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed October Br 1392- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MANFRED U. LOREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ham-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlngs.

My invention relates to means for holding hams, a leg of mutton, beef or other similar article usually found at the green grocers, butchers or other places where hams and other meats are sold in retail quantities, and consists of an adjustable device that may properly be termed a ham holder. It is well known that the present means for holding a ham usually found on the butchers block or table while the same is being cut, is to say the least, faulty and is ofttimes the means of the wielder of the steel and blade taking a slice out of his hand or removingafinger with neatness and dispatch by reason of the normal tendency of the ham to slip on the stake or pivotal point while the ham is being cut. The object of this invention is to avert these casualties and difficulties and to produce a device that will hold securely the ham or other article until the last slice is taken from the shank, requiring but the effort of one hand where two are now necessary.

For a more specific description and illustration of my invention attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part 3 5 of the following specification in which- Figure 1. is a plan view showing a partly cut ham between the adjustable sides or clamps, with the cover removed; Fig. 2. a cross section on the line AB, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3. a

cross section on the line OD, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. adetached detail View of the tightening lever.

The letters and figures of reference will be found to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

E, denotes the floor or base of the device, having apertures (a) inclining upwardly from the under surface thereof.

F, and F represent the side pieces or clamps, having a series of pins ('6) extending ficient depth to afford a secure and suitable Serial No. 448,271. (No model.)

laterally from the inner surface thereof. These clamps are pivoted edgewise at the outer end, resting and extending longitudinally on the floor E, by means of metal strips K,.and K which are screwed on the inner 5 5 sides of said clamps. These strips terminate at both ends in pins (6) and (e) one end of which penetrates a cavity in the floor of sufbearing; the other end having itsbearing in the openings (0) and (0) in the extreme ends of the transverse brace H, and is thereby maintained'together with the clamps F, and F in a vertical position, and the clamps are thus permitted to be moved in and out as upon a hinge. This transverse brace is rigidly attached to the floor by screws 1, and 2; the ends incline upwardly and diverge laterally in the manner shown in Fig. 2,forminga most substantial support for the clamps.

J, is a lever pivoted at (mm the outer side of clamp F, and movable therewith; the end (j) of this lever is made with a beveled or inclined surface extending obliquely as shown in Fig. 3; this construction is very essential to the working of the device, and further mention will be made of it hereinafter. Pegs (a) and (u) constructed of any suitable material, are designed to fit in the inclined apertures (a) and thereby limit or increase the area of space between the clamping endsof the pieces F, and F to any extent that may be necessary to accommodate any size ham.

The operation of my device is as follows: The ham is placed on the holder and put in the desired position, the clamp F is then brought against it and the peg (10') inserted in one of the inclined apertures (ct) adjacent to the outer side of the clamp, the clamp F,

is then in turn brought against the other side ofthe ham, the lever J, being first raised in a vertical position,the peg (u) is then inserted in the nearest aperture (a); it will be seen from View 3, that by reason of the aperture beinginclined, the space between said peg and the clamp F, is greater at the base than at the top of said peg. This allows the beveled end of the lever J, to be pried upward to the position shown in Fig. 3, by pressing downward on the lever; the effect of this is to I00 tighten the clamps against the ham, to the utmost extent desirable; the pins (2') penetrate the meat and prevent it from slipping back and forth between the clamps, all of which will be readily understood.

It will be seen that in the operation of this device, the meat is preserved from mutilation, and may be held in a secure position as long as there is a slice to be taken off.

M, denotes the lid or cover, which is preferably constructed of sheet metal. This cover is secured to the base by hinges 3, and 4.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base having a series of inclined apertures in the bottom thereof, of arms pivoted at one end, and extending longitudinally with and on said base, each arm provided with a series of laterally projecting pins, a lever provided with a beveled surface at its inner end, and pegs adapted to be inserted in the apertures in said base, as herein described and for thc'purposes set forth.

2. In a ham holder, the combination with the base provided with a series of upwardly inclined apertures, and pegs adapted to fit therein, of arms pivoted at one end and resting on and extendinglongitudinally with said base, the transverse brace I-I, rigidly attached to said base, and supporting said arms edgewise in a vertical position, a lever pivoted to the outer side of one of the arms, said lever having a beveled edge adapted to work between the peg and the arm, thereby increasing the pressure against the ham, substantially as herein described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base, provided with a seriesof inclined apertures, and pegs adapted to be inserted in said apertures and the cover M., of the clamps F, and F pivoted thereto, and the lever J, pivoted to one of said clamps, and having a beveled edge adapted to work against the peg (u) thereby in creasing the pressure of said clamp against the ham, substantially as herein described.

In testimony'whercot Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MANFRED U. LOREE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. HILLER, ALBERT EMANUEL. 

